I wrote a review after my 2nd viewing which was in 48fps. The first time was in standard 3D( because I was still in doubt about the HFR) and the movie left me with the impression that they had done a good job on bringing the hobbit to life, but surely I wanted to see it again to establish my complete opinion ( and get used to some aspects as well).

In my mind, I could not be a 10 since I've never gone to any of the Tolkien-film-fan things that onering sponsors, and have not read more than a smattering of the scholarly stuff. But I figured I could go above 5 since I've actually been to a scholarly conference and did those Encyclopedia entries and have made it to Half-Elven here!

And also I look nothing like Bo Derek! Though I could pass for Dudley Moore....

Magpie made it so darn easy even I could figure out how to do a footer!

For that avatar, well, guess what --turns out I just had my settings set in such a way that when I could never see my avatar, so every time I tried to post one I just figured I didn't do it right and deleted it. Could have had one years ago! I was just on the wrong channel, so to speak. But that is sort of the story of my life, ha! Maybe that is what my footer should say!

Hope to be back around this year -2012 was not good for my virtual life! Thanks for the welcome back

It took me awhile to get out of the LOTR mode so I could be open to the new story. It was like my book reading experience in reverse, when I read The Hobbit first and had a hard time transitioning to a story that did not have Bilbo as the central character. Helped that Gandalf was around both times, though!

I'm curious to see how many people waited until at least a second viewing...
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..and it would also be interesting to know if the people who rated it on the first viewing were different in any way than the people who waited. I suspect that folks less attached to the LOTR films -- people who only discovered them on DVD or Blu Ray, for example -- might not have had the "adjustment" period that I did, which kept me from falling in love at first sight....

I mean, I know they expanded on the stuff outside of Bilbo, but I still think he was the central character.

I agree with your assessment about multiple viewings, though. My enjoyment of the film has gone up each time.

And, I guess, I thought posting a review would be more about the text of it than the number rankings. And I guess I'd rather write about my opinion on the film in a place where I can get direct feedback after I've written it.

I liked Bilbo in The Hobbit, so had a hard time when I started reading LOTR and the focus of the story switched to Frodo. So my comment was more about Bilbo not being the central character in LOTR.

When I started LOTR, I wanted more of Bilbo, Gandalf and dwarves that I had come to know and love, I was glad to have Gandalf back, which helped. It took me awhile to warm up to Frodo, he was not as much fun as Bilbo! And I was not sure I wanted to get very attached to him or other hobbits, but they grew on me as the story went on, and I found myself not missing Bilbo at all after awhile!

Good point about the way the Ringer Reviews work versus other ways to comment on the film. Thanks for those insights!

A second viewing only confirmed my opinions. I didn't have the problem I had with LOTR:FOTR where I had to see it three times to get past my disappointment with how it varied from the book and take the film on its own merits,

It was not that I did not like it the first time, I did. The changes did not bother me at all, I am among those that found Radagast a positive overall, and the Thorin/Azog confrontation at the end of the film a fitting climax and promising addition to Bilbo and Thorin's three-film character arcs. I just had this ovewhelmed feeling, that maybe I had missed something despite liking it.

I believe, if I recall correctly, that I reviewed it after my third viewing (also my first in HFR). And in my second and third, I realized I had missed things. Some, reasonably important, like that Thorin overheard the conversation between Bilbo and Bofur. Some, maybe less so but raising my appreciation (I found the Goblin Town fight sequence amazing in HFR. I am not sure if it was HFR, or my growing familiarity with the characters, but I was suddenly able to pick up details and understand the action as a coherent whole at this viewing). These increased my liking for the movie.

..and it would also be interesting to know if the people who rated it on the first viewing were different in any way than the people who waited. I suspect that folks less attached to the LOTR films -- people who only discovered them on DVD or Blu Ray, for example -- might not have had the "adjustment" period that I did, which kept me from falling in love at first sight....

to love it. That was true for me for ROTK as well. There is just so much going on. I liked it the first time. Loved it the second and adored it the third.

It got better the second time. First time i just left mostly disappointed that it wasnt better. Second time i viewed it more as a film in its own rights rather than comparing it to the book or scenes i have imagined for years.

Fan level of 7 as i have not yet read through all of the HoME editions, still got the LOTR ones to go for the most part.

I had planned to write one on my own blog site.....I had completely missed the fact that this place was collecting reviews in a way. So I will copy/reproduce whatever I write here as well. Anything to help out. I have seen it twice and am going a third time tomorrow morning (it is now late, late Friday evening, going Saturday morning). I enjoyed it more the second time....as for why, I'm not entirely sure, but have a pretty good idea...hopefully that comes across in my review. We'll see as I"m not so good at writey stuff down that mine eyes see inside.

No, seriously, I did post some comments on the Hobbit boards after my first viewing but knew that I need to see a film many times before feeling qualified to judge it yet. It just takes me forever to assimilate all the details (if I ever will). Also, I've been struggling with illness pretty much ever since New Year's so just didn't have the energy. However, I'm still planning on doing so one of these days .... weeks.... months....